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No. 6|4,832. Patented Nov. 29, |898.

F. BURGER.`

MACHINE FOR CLEANING FABRICS.

(Applicatun led Dec. 10, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shen l.

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v 3mm/Coz Witwen@ 7 @0d '4/ l No. 6|4,8?,2.` Patented Nov. 29, |898'.

F. BURGER.

MACHINE FR CLEANING FABRICS.

(Application med Dec. 1o, 1897.)

(No Modal.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2.

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Witwen@ UNITED STATE-s PATENT Ormes..

FRANZ BURGER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO HENRY M. VILLIAMS, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,832, dated November 29, 1898.

Application iiled December l0, 1897. SeralNo. 661.409. (No model.)

a minimum expenditure of effort on the part of the operator.

lVith this object in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts hereinafter zo more particularly described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of 2 5 the vacuum -generator, parts being in side elevation and broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the cleaner or extractor. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof, and Fig. lis a detail view of the piston and its valve-op erating projection.

Briefly stated, the invention consists of a` cleaner or extractor having an open or perforated face adapted to be pressed into contact with the fabric to be cleaned. Connected to 3 5 this cleaner by means' of a flexible tube, which permits the cleaner being moved over an extended surface, is avacuum-chamber, and coperating with this chamber is means for generating avacuum therein. When the 4o cleaner is pressed into contact with the fabric to be cleaned and communication is opened between it and the vacuum-chamber, a suc-v tion is created through the open face of the cleaner, and as the air which enters the cleaner must first pass through the fabric any dust or dirt contained therein is drawn into the cleaner with the air, and from thence it passes through the flexible tube and is iinally collected in the vacuum-chamber. In 5o order that the cleaner may be used continuously and the necessity of stopping whenever the vacuum in the chamber isso materially decreased as to beinsufficient, asecond vacuum chamber is provided, which is likewise adapted to be put into communication with the cleaner. Only one of said chambers is, however, placed into communication with the cleaner at the same time, automatic means being provided which operates in such manner that when one chamber is in communi- 6o cation with the cleaner all communication between the cleaner and the other chamber is cut off, and while the vacuum in one chamber is being utilized a vacuumis beingformed in the second chamber ready to be used when that in the first is insufficient to be effective.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A designates the cleaner or extractor, comprising, as shown, a casing 1, having a chamber 2, from the top of which a discharge- 7o opening leads to a short length of flexible tubing 3, suitably connected to a nipple of the casing. Extending transversely across the bottom of the cleaner is a series of inverted-V-shaped grooves which communicate, through perforations at their contracted por tions, with the chamberZ.

In order that the cleaner may be moved over the surface to be cleaned with the least amount of friction, rollers 4 are journaled in 8o its bottom to slightly elevate it above the floor or other surface.

Connected to the sides and ends of the casing are flexible strips 5, which depend below the bottom thereof and prevent air from being drawn into the casing at these points. To the tube 3 is connected a short rigid tubular handle 6, to the end of which in turn is connected a flexible tubular connection 7, leading from the discharge-pipe 8 of a vacuum- 9o generator B. The tubular handle 6 is provided with a hand-valve G, by means of which the suction may be arrested when the cleaner is lifted from the surface being cleaned, there by preventing the vacuum wit-hin the vacuu 11i-chamber being unnecessarilydiminished. This generator B when used for dwelling houses of moderate size maybe mounted upon a Wheeled truck toffacilitate its being moved around from room to room. In large buildroo ings, however, it is desirable that it be mounted upon a stationary base, preferably in the basement of the building, and branch supplypipes provided which extend therefrom to different points in the building, to the ends of which pipes the flexible tube 7 is connected.

As shown, the generator B comprises two vacuum-chambers C C2and a steam-generator l), arranged intermediate the said chambers and communicatingtherewith through branch steam-supply pipes 9, leading from a common valve controlled supply pipe l0, the said branch supply-pipes extending from near the top of the vacuum-chambers to points near the bottoms thereof. Each of the pipes 9 is provided with a seat to which is adapted a valve 12, the stem l2 of which extends through a discharge-port 13 in the casing of the vacuum-chamber and carries a disk 14, which is adapted to close said port. At its outer end the valve-stem 12a is connected to a weighted lever 15, pivoted at one end to the casing, and at its free end is adapted to engage a lip of a pivoted vertical projection 16, extending from a piston 17 within a cylinder 18. Within this cylinder is a spring 19, the normal tendency of which is to force the piston outward, causing the projection 16 to engage with and lift the end of the lever 15, thereby lifting the valves 12 14; from their seats to open the supply-pipe 9 and discharge port 13. The projection 1G is provided at its lower end with an extension, which is normally maintained against a solid bearing of the piston by means of a fiat spring 20. This spring, however, permits the projection to swing upon its pivot in one direction. The cylinder 18 communicates with the interior of the vacuum-chamber through a port 21, arranged at a point beneath its piston.

Assumingnow the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, steam is admitted from the generator D to the bottom of the chamber C through the branch pipe 9. The steam naturally rises within the chamber, forcing the air therein out through the port 13. As it ascends the steam also enters the cylinder 1S through the port 2l, and when the pressure is sufiicient and all of the air has been expelled from the chamber C the piston and its projection 1G is forced upward, causing the lip of the projection to slip by the end of the weighted lever 15, allowing it to drop, and thereby close the valves 12 14. It will thus be seen that all the air has been expelled from the chamber C and all communication with the external atmosphere and with the steamgenerator has been cut olf. The external air now begins to cool the casing of the chamber C, condensing the steam therein and causing a vacuum to be slowly produced. The vacuum thus formed pulls down upon the piston 17 and compresses its spring, bringing said parts to the position shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 1. The apparatus is now ready for use, and upon opening communication between the cleaner and the vacuu m-chamber a suction is created through the cleaner and its flexible connection, causing the dust contained in the fabric being operated upon to be drawn within the vacuum-chamber and mingled with the water of condensation in the bottom thereof, from whence it may be withdrawn through a stop-coc 23.

As hereinbefore stated,means are employed which automatically place the chambers C C2 alternately int-o communication with the cleaner, and during the time the vacuum in one of said chambers is being employed a vacuum is being formed in the other. This means comprises, as shown, a valve-casing E, connected at its center to the dischargepipe 8 and communicating at its opposite ends with the vacuum-chambers C C2 through branch discharge-pipes 24. Tithin this casing E isa slide-valve 25, having two channels 26 27, one of which extends from each end and opens at the side near the opposite end, each of said channels being adapted to register with one of the branch discharge-pipes 24 and the main discharge-pipe S when the valve is shifted into proper position. As shown in the drawings, the channel 26is registering with the discharge-pipe 8 and the branch pipe of the cham ber C2, the valve having been drawn to the right by the action of the vacuum within the said chamber upon its end, no resistance being offered at the opposite end of the valve. When in this position, the cleaner is in communication with the vacuum-chamber C2 and steam is being admitted into the chamber C. As soon, however, as the pressure of steam in the chamber C is sufiicient to force the piston 17 outward, thereby releasing the lever 15 and closing the valves 12 14 and a vacuum is formed greater than that in the chamber C2, the valve is drawn to the left, placing the chamber C into communication with the cleaner through the port 27 and cutting off the communication between the chamber C"a and the cleaner. By this time the vacuum in the said chamber C2. has become so materially decreased that the spring 19 raises the piston 17, causing the lip of the projection 16 to lift the end of the lever 15 and open the valves 12 14 of the said chamber, allowing steam to enter the chamber preparatory to forming a vacuum therein.

In order to insure the proper action of the valve 25, it is provided in its under face with a recess 29, into which extends a short arm 30 of a rock-shaft 31. This shaft extends through the casing and is provided at its outer end with a weighted lever 32. When thus constructed, it will be readily seen that if the valve 25 be moved a little over one-half its stroke the weighted lever will be carried to one side or the other of the vertical and by gravity assist the valve in the completion of its stroke.

W'ithout limiting myself to the exact construction and arrangement of the parts shown and described, since it will be evident that various changes in such construction and ar- IOO IOS

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IIS

rangement may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention,

What I claim is- I. In a cleaning apparatus,the combination of a cleaner comprising a closed casin g having a grooved face said grooves being contracted in cross-section and communicating with the casing at their contracted portions, avacuumchamber and a flexible tubular connection intermediate the vacuum-chamber and cleaner, substantially as described.

2. In a cleaning apparatus, the combination with a cleaner comprising a casing having an open or perforated face two vacuum-chambers, a llexible tubular connection intermediate the cleaner and said chambers and automatic means for placing the vacuum-chambers alternately in communication with the cleaner, substantially as described.

3. In acleaning apparatus,the combination with a cleaner comprising a casing having an open or perforated face two vacuum-chambers, a flexible tubular connection intermediate the cleaner and said chambers and automatic means for placing the vacuum-chambers alternately in communication with the cleaner, and automatic means for creating a vacuum in the said chambers, substantially as described.

4. In a cleaning appa1'atus,the combination with a cleaner, of a vacuum-chamber having a valve-controlled discharge-port, a flexible connection between the cleaner and vacuumchamber, a steam-generator, la valve-controlled connection intermediate the steamgenerator and vacuum-chamber and means adapted to be actuated by the pressure within said chamber to automatically close the discharge-valve andthe valve intermediate the chamber and generator, substantially as described.

5. In cleaning apparatus, the combination with a cleaner, of two vacuum-chambers, a flexible connection intermediate the chambers and cleaner, means for automatically placing said chambers alternately in communication with the cleaner, and automatic means for alternately generating a vacuum in thevacuum-chambers, substantially as described.

6. In a cleaning apparatus,the combination of a cleaner having a perforated or open face, a vacuum-chamber having a valve-controlled discharge-port leading therefrom, a connection between said chamber and the cleaner, a steam-generator and a valve-controlled communication intermediate the generator and vacuum-chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANZ BURGER.

Witnesses:

GEO. K. ToRRnNcE, J. BURGER. 

